Proposed East Newark budget would hike taxes

East Newark officials have introduced a budget for calendar year 2014 that would translate into higher municipal taxes for local property owners if adopted later this year.

The nearly $3.3 million budget, which includes expenses for both municipal and water costs, would mean a tax hike of $84 for the average East Newark home valued at $75,000, officials said.

However, Mayor Joseph R. Smith cautioned that the budget is still in its early stages and that the projected tax hike is far from final.

The proposed 2014 budget represents an increase of approximately 7 percent over last year’s municipal budget.

Smith said this year’s harsh winter cast unexpected stress on the municipal side of the budget, with the borough opting to hire a contractor to clear streets of the huge mounds of snow that built up as storm after storm hit the area.

The borough responded to four states of emergency declared by Gov. Chris Christie in response to major snowfalls this winter, according to Smith.

“One of our biggest factors was definitely the snow,” Smith said. “Even though we have certain practices put in place, we had to go to an outside contractor to clean the streets curb to curb. That was all unforeseen.”

Smith said the borough was also hit hard by rising fixed utility costs.

No date has been set for a public hearing on the budget, but Smith said it could occur as early as next month.